The Republican whip, Trent Lott of Mississippi, who supports the bill, said: “Talk radio is running America. We have to deal with that problem.”

At some point, Mr. Lott said, Senate Republican leaders may try to rein in “younger guys who are huffing and puffing against the bill.”

I think that this is a complaint that the old days were more fun for senators, and that the senators especially don’t like the new media’s ability to inform, inspire and direct public opinion. The end result of Senator Lott’s blasts (another one here) is to of course further motivate the base because to the reality of a bad bill and past insults is now added a genuine note of dislike –which is not the way to build a party.

It may be that the Times and the Post cherry picked Lott’s comments, but Senators McConnell and Kyl have got to take him aside and explain that the base is our friend, that new media isn’t going away and that they don’t want it to –unless, of course, the GOP would like to leave all media to the left.